Construction block support



Feb. 13, 1968 L. MEIGS 3,

CONSTRUCTION BLOCK SUPPORT Filed Oct. 4, 1966 FIGZ 28 3o [6 *7 1| 1| n1| u W26 I 7 INVENTOR F16 LAUREN MEIGS BY 26547 I ["5556 AGENT UnitedStates Patent 3,368,317 CONSTRUCTION BLOCK SUPPORT Lauren Meigs, ElkaPark, NY. 12427 Filed Oct. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 584,123 7 Claims. (Cl.52603) This invention relates to construction blocks, and in particularto an improved support means for construction blocks.

Masons and bricklayers have long experienced problems in layingconstruction blocks which are customarily made from cinder. Inparticular, much time is spent to assure that a newly laid block remainslevel after having been deposited on top of a layer of fresh cement ormortar. The heavy block often tends to sink in one corner or at one endand before continuing to lay another block the mason must be certainthat the one previously laid remains level and true. This is, quiteobviously, unproductive as it detracts from the time which may moreprofitably be spent in laying new blocks.

In an attempt to reduce the tendency of the blocks to settle masons haveincreased the consistency of the mortar or cement. This practice oftenresults in a poor joint between the blocks since cement adheres bestwhen it is wet and of a consistency which is not sufiicient to supportequally the weight of the block.

To eliminate such problems those skilled in the art have constructedblocks having means for supporting the blocks until the cement or mortarhas sufliciently hardened. Thus blocks have been constructed withprotrusions to support the block on the top surface of a previously laidblock. Such supports have taken many forms including channeled membersrunning the width of the block, peg-like protrusions located at eachcorner, or dowel members inserted in holes provided in each corner ofthe block. However, in those instances where the protrusion supportshave been fabricated of the same material as the block they have beensusceptible of breakage either during transportation to the job site orwhen being used in construction. The dowel-like inserts have notcompletely solved the problem as they often tend to become canted intheir holes which then results in the block assuming a non-horizontalposition.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simply constructedsupport means that is inexpensive to produce and operate that obviatesthe above-mentioned difficulties.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved supportmeans for construction blocks that will enable such blocks to be laidreadily and efficiently in an exactly level and horizontal position.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an inverted view of a construction block showing the bottomside and illustrating the support means;

FIGURE 2 shows a preferred embodiment of an insert support means;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner in which the improved support means areused in a typical application.

In accordance with the invention, a recessed slot is provided at each ofthe four corners of the bottom side of a construction block. An insertis pressed into each of the recessed slots. The insert comprises thesupport means and has a rotatable support member which is mounted on apivot member. Locking means are provided across the bottom of the insertto engage the rotatable support means 3,358,317 Patented Feb. 13, 1968when it is rotated into a fully vertical or upright position. Therotatable support members are rotated and automatically locked into anupright position at the site of the construction by hand. When all ofthe support members are rotated and locked into position theconstruction block is ready to be placed in position and cemented.

FIGURE 1 shows the bottom side of a standard constnnction block inaccordance with the invention illustrating the improved support means.The cinder block 12 is molded according to standard processes with arecessed slot 14 in each of the four corners. These slots may be madewith a slight modification of existing molds. Recessed slots 14 are eachapproximately 1" long, /2 wide, and /2" deep. The edges Olf eachrecessed slot 14 are located approximately /2" from the outer edges ofconstruction block 12. Rotatable support members 16 are shown locked inoperating position so that they are vertical with respect to the bottomof construction block 12. In operating position support members 16extend approximately /2 above the bottom surface.

An enlarged view of insert means 18 is shown in FIG- URE 2. Insert 18may be made of any material, metal or plastic, but it is perferred thata deformable material having substantial rigidity such as plastic beused. When made of a deformable plastic material insert 18 will tend tobe anchored in recessed slot 14 since it can be constructed to be forcefit into recess slot 14. Insert 18 is preferably of the same dimensionsas recessed slot 14, but of such dimensions to provide a snug and securefit within recessed slot 14.

Support members 16 are made of either metal or plastic and arepreferably /8" thick and 1 long. The ends of support members 16extending above the bottom surface of the construction block arepreferably rounded to prevent their being caught on the surfaces of theconstruction block supporting them to enable the construction blocks toremain relatively freely movable. Support member 16 is securely mountedto rotatable shaft 20 midway along its length. Shaft 2t is rotatablymounted to the sides of insert means 18, for example, by extending shaft20 through holes in the side members of insert means 18.

Locking means 24 is positioned across the bottom of insert 18 as shownin FIGURE 2. Locking means 24 serves to hold support member 16 in avertical position and lock it there. Locking means 24 may comprise aslit along the bottom of insert means 18 into which the edge of supportmember 16 is forced when rotated into a vertical position. Those skilledin the art will recognize that any suitable locking means will sufiiceto hold support memher. For example, if it is desired to make insertmeans 18 without a bottom, then locking means 24 may comprise shaft-likemember having a slit along its length to accommodate the engaging edgeof support member 16. When in locked position, support member 16 isapproximately /2" above the edge surfaces of insert means 13 and thebottom surface of construction block 12. Inserts 18 are preferablymounted in recessed slots 14 with the uppermost edges fiush with, orslightly below, the surface of construction block 12.

In FIGURE 3 two courses of construction block 26, 23 are shown toillustrate the use of support members 16. The first course 26 is laidand leveled. Mortar or cement is then placed on top of the blocksforming course 26. The blocks forming course 28 are then placed on topof the mortar and the blocks forming course 26 with support members 16locked in their vertical or upright position. The mortar has beenomitted from the figure for the sake of clarity. Support members 16prevent the construction blocks from tilting or settling before thecement has had a chance to form and support the blocks itself.

While the invention has been particularly shown and 3 described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A construction block having a bottom surface, comprising:

a plurality of recessed slots located on the bottom surface, a pluralityof insert means, individual ones of said insert means being mounted inindividual ones of said recessed slots, each of said insert meansincluding rotatable support members mounted in said insert means andextending above the surface of said construction block when in a fullyupright position for supporting said construction block, said insertmeans further including locking means for securing said support memberin said fully upright position.

2. A construction block according to claim 1 wherein an individual oneof said recessed slot and said insert means are located in each cornerof said bottom surface.

3. A construction block according to claim 2 wherein said insert meansfurther includes rotatable shaft means mounted to said insert means,said support members being mounted to said shaft means.

4. A construction block according to claim 3 wherein each of saidrecessed slots and insert means are rectangular in shape and essentially1 long, /2 wide and /2 deep.

5. A construction block according to claim 4 wherein said support memberis of rectangular shape having an upper edge and a lower edge, saidlocking means being in the form of a slit along the bottom of saidinsert means, said slit having an opening to receive and secure saidlower edge when said support member is rotated into a vertical uprightposition.

6. A construction block according to claim 5 wherein the upper edge ofsaid support member has rounded corners.

7. An insert member for mounting within a recessed slot in aconstruction block, comprising:

a rectangular shaped box frame, support means rotatably mounted on saidframe, said support means being rotatable from a substantiallyhorizontal position to a substantially vertical position, locking meansmounted within said frame for securing said support means when in avertical position, a portion of said support means extending above thetop of said frame when said support means is in a vertical position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,674 4/1913 Kertes 52-6031,294,225 2/1919 Bellingham 52-603 1,859,236 5/1932 Covell 52-6032,095,012 10/1937 Renkert 52-603 3,078,621 2/1963 Hinds 52-125 3,187,6946/1965 Crookston et al. 52-125 3,196,581 7/1965 Castelli 52-125 FRANCISK. Z'UGEL, Primary Examiner.

1. A CONSTRUCTION BLOCK HAVING A BOTTOM SURFACE, COMPRISING: A PLURALITYOF RECESSED SLOTS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM SURFACE, A PLURALITY OF INSERTMEANS, INDIVIDUAL ONE OF SAID INSERT MEANS BEING MOUNTED IN INDIVIDUALONES OF SAID RECESSED SLOTS, EACH OF SAID INSERT MEANS INCLUDINGROTATABLE SUPPORT MEMBERS MOUNTED IN SAID INSERT MEANS AND EXTENDINGABOVE THE SURFACE OF SAID CONSTRUCTION BLOCK WHEN IN A FULLY UPRIGHTPOSITION FOR SUPPORTING SAID CONSTRUCTION BLOCK, SAID INSERT MEANSFURTHER INCLUDING LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IN SAIDFULLY UPRIGHT POSITION.